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R. WILGOX. STBAMSHIP PROPBLLER AND MACHINERY THBRBPOR.

. 315,199. Patented Apr. 7, 1885.

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(No ModeL) R. WILGOX. STEAMSHIP PROPELLER AND MACHINERY THEREPOR.

No. 315,199. Patented,Apr.V 7, 1885.

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R. WILCOX. STEAMSHIP PROPELLBR AND MACHINERY THERBFOR. No. 315,199.

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STEAMSHIP PROPBLLBR AND MACHINERY THBRBFOR. No. 315,199. Patented Apr. 7, 1885.

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R. `WILGOXl STEAMSHIP PRQPELLER AND MACHINERY THBRBFOR.

No. 315,199.' Patented Apr. 7, 1885.

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UNITED STATES PATENT QEEICE.

ROBERT wiLcOX, OE sT. KILDA, vrOrORrA.

STEAIVISHIP-PROPELLER AND MACHINERY THEREFOR.

SPECEFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 315,199, dated April 7, 1885.

Application filed December 10, 1884. (No model.) Patented in England May 15, 1884, No. 7,774.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT WILOOX, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Fawkner Street, St. Kilda7 in the British Colony of Victoria, engineer, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steamship- Propellers and in Machinery for Driving the Same, of which the following is a specification.

My improved propeller for steamships has been designed for the purpose of superseding the screw-propellers at present in use, which are placed at the stern of the ship.

My propeller is placed under the bottom of the ship, so that it is always under water, and consequently cannot race, which is one of the greatest objections to ordinary screw-pro pellers.

My improved propeller consists of two oarshaped blades whose shafts are properly tted and work in the bearings provided in the lower end of a vertical cylindrical trunk,which also works in suitable water-tight bearings, and projects through the bottom of the ship in a gap provided in the keel of the vessel for that purpose. To this trunk, and consequently to the blades, a reciprocating motion is given by an arm on it, which is worked by a connecting-rod from the crank-shaft of an engine whose stroke is so regulated as to give to said blades atravel of one hundred and nine (1090) degrees or thereabout. The reciprocating motion may be imparted to the trunk through any arrangement of machinery and by any description of engine. A feathering motion, or motion whereby the blades are alternately turned on their edge at one end and on their side at the other end of the stroke, is given to said blades, so that when they are moving in the same direction as the ship the edge of said blade offers as little resistance as possible to the water, as hereinafter more fully explained. Reversing-gear is also provided, by means of which the blade-feathering mechanism may be so set as to immediately alter the blades from propelling the vessel ahead to propelling her Referring to my drawings, Figure 1 shows a longitudinal view of a vessel having a pair of my propellers fitted thereto at their pro posed positions, and Fig. 2 a cross-section on the line a a, looking forward; Fig. 3, a crosssect-ion on the line b b, also looking forward, showing the blades in their normal working positions. 5 a fore-and-aft, elevation of myimproved propeller and of the machinery for driving it. Fig. Gis an athwart-ship sectional elevation of same. Fig. 7 is a plan of lower part of same, showing connection from crankshaft of steam-engine to trunk, and Fig. S is a plan on top of suspension-plate. Fig. 9 is a vertical fore-and-aft section of the trunk. Figs. 10 and 11 are top and bottom plans of same. Fig.

y 12 is a horizontal section at c c in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 13 a plan of bottom of said trunk with lower cap removed. Figs. 14 and 15 are similar views to Figs. 12 and 10 of an alternative method of arranging the feathering -cranks Figs. 16 and 17 show vertical section and plan of an alternative construction of the bearings for the propeller shafts. Fig. lisaback view of the roller-carriage. Fig. 19 is a plan of top, and Fig. 2() aplan of bottom, roller-paths. Fig. 21, a horizontal section at el cl, Fig. 4. Figs. 22 and 23 are plansof the upper and lower striking-gear for operating the paths, and Figs. 24 and 25 show an alternative construction of the striking-arms by facing them with vulcanite or some such material, (marked R.) Fig. 26 shows an alternative form of blade for the propellers. Figs. 27 and 2S show alternative constructions of the feathering-rods, and Fig. 29 shows half-elevation aud half-sec tion, and Fig. 30 half top plan and half horizontal section of an alternative arrangement for transmitting the feathering motion to the Fig. 4 is an athwartship, and Fig.

IOO

which it is attached by flanges B2, bolted together by the tap-bolts B2. The lower end of the trunkB is enlarged in diameter, and has a cap, B4, fitted thereon. This cap is let into a suitable recess in the trunk,and bolted thereto by means of the tapbolts B5. Thiscap and the lower end of the trunk form the bearings for the shafts A2 and disks A4, and apackinggland, B, is also fitted into them, as show n.V In said trunk B a hole is provided at b, so as to form an outlet for any sea-water which may get there.

G is the bed-plate to which the standards C are bolted, said standards supporting the circular frame D of the roller-paths. Into Vthe top flange of said frame D are iiXed the four colurnns E, which support and are bolted to the suspension-plate E, which has a central boss, E2, on its upper face to form a bearing for the vertical shaft B, and also to form a path on kwhich the suspension -rollers E2 travel. These rollers revolve on the transverse shaft E4, which is fitted into the uppermost endof said vertical shaft B.

E5 is a loose collar fitted on the shaft B and working against the under side of suspensionplate E', as shown. A large boss, G2, is formed on and projects downward from the bed-plate G., Into this boss is tted a brush, G2, which is lined inside with strips of lignum-vitte C4, as shown in Fig. 21. Abovethisis-a stuffingboX, C2, fitted with gland C". These parts G2, C2, and CG are made in halves, C2 being bolted to the bedplate by the boltsk C2, while the gland into stuffing-box is fastened by the bolts C2.

BT are the eonnecting-rods, BS the cranks working in the bearings B2, which are fitted into the upper square portion of trunk B.

F are the roller-carriage brackets carrying the path-rollers F', friction-rollers F2, -and guide-rods F2, which work in the guide-brackets F2, tted on the outside of t-runk B. This carriage has an oblong hole or slot, F5, formed in its back face, in which the outer pins or cranks B8 work. D' are the upper and D2 the lower movable roller-paths, the upper ones having a dovetailed slide-piece, D2, formed on them, which slides in asuitable recess formed in the path or flange of frame D, and the lower ones having the two dovetailed slide-pieces D4, which work in suitable recesses in lower roller-face ofthe frame D. It will be noticed that the working-surface of the lower roller-paths D2 are beveled to suit the lower rollers F, as shown. These movable paths D and D2 have snugs D5 formed on their outer periphery,be tween which the pins DG are iitted.

G G are brackets iiXedto the frame D by means of the bolts G, and have a pin, G2, fitted into them, which supports the lever G2.

G4 is a rod connecting said lever G2 with bell-crank G5. This bell-crank has a slotted hole, G6, for regulating the stroke, and is supported in the bracket G7, which is bolted to the top of the circular frame D.

G8 is a -rod connecting the arm G2 on the square portion of the tappet-shaft H to said bell-crank G2.

G10 is a forked bracket bolted to the suspension-plate for supporting the arm G4'.

H is a cranked lever supported in the bracket H2, bolted to the top 0i' suspension-plate E. This lever has a bow or forked end,which carries two pins, H2, fitted therein, said pins being placed in the groove formed in the circular disk H4, which is keyed to the top end of the tappet-shaft H. This tappet-shat't is supported at top in a bearing in the suspensionplate, and at bottom in a bearing in the arm H5, project-ing from before-mentioned bracket G2.

H, H2, and H*3 are the tappet-arms projecting from said tappetshaft H.

I is the upper collar, of the form shown in Fig. 22, having the three striking-pins I bolted into the three oblong holes provided therein. It is keyed onto the vertical shaft B', as shown.

J is the lower collar,ofthe .form shown in Fig. 28, and having the three striking-pins J bolted in the oblong holes therein, which said holes are for the purpose of adjustment, and which said collar is also keyed onto the vertical shalt B. The pins I and J in the brackets I andJ may have set-screws, as shown at J2, iitted into the lugs, so as to prevent said pins from moving sidewise.

K is the cylinder of the engine; K, its pis ton-rod; K2, cross-head; K2, connecting-rod; K4, crank-shaft supported in bearings K5 at top, and footstep K at bottom, which has a wearing piece of lignuni vitae, K2, fitted therein.

K2 is the ily-wheel. Thi-s engine gives the necessary motion to the connecting-rod L, which is connected at the-one end to the crankshaft Kt, and at the other to the pin L', between the arms L2, formed on the vertical trunk B, thereby giving the required reciproeating motion through said trunk to the propeller. The alternative arrangement of one of the double-ended cranks B, so as to cause the after edges of the blades to always lift up in the feathering motion when going aft, and which I think is preferable, is accomplished by simply making one of the crankswith the pins on different sides of its center, which crankis marked B10 in Fig. 14 of the drawings. Fig. l5 shows top view of trunk B, with the guide-brackets F* altered to suit this construction.

Figs. 16 and 17 show the alternative construction of the bearings for the propellershaft, in which the half-brasses M are set into the bottoni of the trunk and cap, and held therein by the set-screws M. Metallic and indiarubber packing-rings M2 and M3 are inserted in the stuffing-box, as shown.

Fig. 27 shows the alternative construction of the feathering-rods, so as to be able to adjust the top and bottom brasses. N, by the nuts N on the ends ot' the strap N2, which strap passes around the rod Nia-ndthelowerbrasses IIO or the end of the strap may be formed into a I reverse positions. The top one, D',on the port bow having a central set-bolt, N4, as shown in side will be out, and the lower one, D2, in, and

Fig. 28 of the drawings.

Figs. 29 and 30 show an alternative arrangement for conveying the motion from the rollerpaths to the feathering-rods in the trunk B. By this arrangement the cranks Bs in Fig. l2 and the carriage F in Fig. 18 are dispensed with, and the path-rollers F work on bearings projecting from the guide-block O, which has friction-rollers O fitted to it-,working against the inner side of the guide-box O2 or. the one side and against the flat face of the trunk B on the other side. Projecting inward from said guide-block O, and through the slot in said trunk, is a pin, O3, to which the connecting-rod B7 is attached. From thence to the blades the mechanical arrangements are the same as already described, and shown more especially in Figs. 6 and 9. l

In each Steamship there may be two or more of my propellers and two or more sets of the requisite driving machinery. In Figs. 1. 2, and 3 Ihave shown two of such sets, which is what I prefer.

The operation of my propellers and the machinery for driving and governing same in a ship fitted, as I prefer,with a pair ofsuch propellers and their driving-gear, as illustrated in Figs. l, 2, and 3, is as follows: Motion being imparted to the trunks, and from them to the propellers, by the contrivances shown and already described, causes the starboard blade on the forward and the port blade on [the after propeller to be vertical when traveling aft, and consequently the ship to be thereby propelled forward, and the port blade on the forward propeller and the starboard blade on the aft propeller to be in the reverse position-that is, edgewise against the water while traveling forward; or, in other words, one of the blades of each propeller should be vertical for that portion of the astern stroke during which it is designed to bc so, and edgewise for its full forward stroke, as shown at A and 'A in Fig. 4. At each end of the stroke, and in this case as the lower tappets, H8, are in position, and supposing the machine to have just returned from the forward end on the port side, then the lower striking-frame, J, which is keyed onto the upright shaft-extension B of the trunk B, would have comeinto contact with the arm-tappet Hson the tappet-shaft H, and through the medium of the arms G9, connecting-rod G8, bell-crank G5, connecting-rod G4, and lever G3, which operates the top and bottom movable paths, D and D2, will place them in theposition shown in Fig. 4. The dotted circles in Fig. 22 indicate the position `the pins assume at the end of each stroke or vibration of the trunk B. When the end of this stroke is reached, and while the pathrollers F are clear of the movable paths D and D2, the striking-pins J will come in contact with th'e opposite side of the tappet-arms H8, thereby shifting the movable paths to the on the starboard side the top one, D', will be in and the lower one, D2, out, so that the carriages F and rollers F', traveling between the paths, as described, will cause the blade Ato be vertical in coming astern, and the blade A edgewise in going ahead. The feathering-gear from path-rollers F to blades A and A is as follows: The rollers F being attached to the carriages F, and such carriages having slots F5 at theirback faces, into which the outer pins of the double crank Bs work, and the codnecting-rods B7, inside the trunk B, being connected at their top end to the inner pins of the cranks BB, and at their lower ends to the pins A5 on the disks A4, the carriages F are caused to rise and fall by traveling on the paths, and so cause the blades A and Ato twist or feather from the vertical to the horizontal position. Vhen it is required to reverse the course of the ship from ahead to astern, which in practice means that the carriage F should travel on top of the movable roller-paths D2 when working forward, and consequently the blades be vertical when going forward, I require to place the cranked hand-levers H in the position shown in Fig. 6, and so raise the lower arm-tappets, H8, clear of the lower strikingframe, J, and the same movement brings the upper arm-'tappeta lil6 and H7, into the line of contact with the upper striking-frame, I, which, when said frame and tappets come in contact, reverses the movable paths, as required.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and the manner of performing same,

I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the particular shapes or forms of the propeller-blades shown in the drawings, as any convenient form of blade having the required surface to propel the ship may be used; and, further, I do not confine myself to any particular form of steam-engine for driving my propeller, as any description will do if of sufficient power and placed in any convenient position adjacent to the trunk of said propellers; but

What I believe to be new, and therefore claim as my improvements in Steamship-propellers and in the machinery for drivin-g same, 1s-

1. A Steamship-propeller consisting of two duplicate sets of oar-shaped blades having reciprocations in a horizontal plane and afeathering motion, combined with vertical partlyrotating trunks provided with separate bearings for the said blades, and within said trunks separate cranks and feathering-rods whereby said propellers may be located beneath the bottom of the ship forward of the run, and the several sets arranged to give simultaneous propelling-strokes on each side of-.the keel, as set forth.

2. The combination, with a partly-rotating trunk, of two reciprocating feathering-blades IOO lIO

mounted on separate shafts with separatev cranks, and the rods which give the feathering motion to the propeller-blades separately located within said trunk, whereby said oars are separately operated and controlled, substantially as set forth.

4. Thereciprocating trunk the oar-shafts Az A2, journaled in the lower end ofsaid trunk, with cranks A5 A5 at their inner ends, and the rods B2 B2, respectively connected at their npper ends with cranks Bl2 B2, combined 'with movable cam-tracks D D D2 D2, provided with a rock-shaft controlled by the reciproca tion of said trunk to move said cam-tracks al ternately into and out of the path ofthe friction-rollers which control said cranks B2, substantially as shown and described.

5. The reciprocating trunk B, the oar-shafts A2 A2,journaled in the lowerend of said trunk, with cranks A5 A5 at their inner ends, the rods B2 B2, respectively connected at their upper ends with cranks B8 B2, movable caurtracks D D D2 D2, provided with a rock-shaft, G2, and rocking arms G2, connected at the ends respectively with the movable eamtraeks D and D2, combined with the connecting-rod G2, connected at its upper end with a rock-shaft, H, which is provided with tappets H2, and

the' lugs J', attached to and reciprocated by said trunk B, for the purpose of moving said trackways alternately and eoincidently with the reciproeation of said trunk to feather the oars, as set forth. Y

6. The reciprocating trunk B, the oarshafts A2 A2, journaled in the lower end of said trunk, with cranks A5 A5 at their inner ends, the rods BT B2, respectively connected at their, upper ends with cranks B2 B2, movable carn-tracks D D D2 D2, provided with a rock-shaft, G2, and rocking arms G2, connected at the ends respectively with the movable cam-tracks D and D2, an endwise movable rook-shaft, H, provided with tap pet, H. H2 H2, combined with lugs J l, carried by the reciprocatingn trunk B, and a lever, H, whereby said shaft H may be moved endwise to disengage tappets H2 from the lugs J and engage tappets H6 and H2 with lugs l', and thereby reverse the relative movements of the cam-trackways Dl D2 and the oar-blades, as set forth.

7. The reciprocating trunk B, the oar-shafts A2 A2, jonrnaled in the lower end ofsaid trunk, with cranks A5 A5 at theirinner ends, and the rods B2 B2, respectively connected at their upper ends with cranks B8 B2, whereby the oarblades are vibrated and feathered, as described, combined with `the circular track E2, attached to the frame E, and the wheels E, attached to the said trunk, whereby said trunk is suspended, as set forth.

ROBERT VILCOX.

Vitnesses:

VEDWARD Warmes,

WALTER SMYTHE BJiYsToN. 

